In the 1970s, he moved away from his previous hard-bop jazz base and began to record jazz fusion and rhythm and blues. Teaming up with the Mizell Brothers, he produced Black Byrd, which was enormously successful and became Blue Note Records' highest-ever selling album. The follow-up albums, Places and Spaces, Stepping Into Tomorrow, and Street Lady, were also big sellers, and have subsequently provided a rich source of samples for hip-hop artists such as Us3.
He has taught music at Rutgers University, the Hampton Institute, New York University, Howard University, and Oberlin College. In 1974 he created The Blackbyrds, a fusion group consisting of his best students. They scored several major hits, including "Walking In Rhythm" and "Blackbyrds Theme".
Dominoes
Donald Byrd Lyrics
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Oh how it hurts me pretty baby when I see you sittin' there so sad
No need to worry 'bout tomorrow, and yesterday is gone
So raise your chin up girl, and we will work our problems out one by one
Hold me tight (Hold me tight), don't let go
Turn me loose, never no, no, no
We'll stand our problems all in a row
Fallin' like dominoes
A pretty baby dry your eyes don't you know it can't be that bad
Oh, how it hurts me pretty baby when I see you sittin' there so sad
One day we'll laugh ad then you'll say, that everything's alright
So let's not worry 'bout tomorrow while we got each other here tonight
Hold me tight (Hold me tight), don't let go
Turn me loose, never no, no, no
We'll stand our problems all in a row
Watch them fall, like dominoes
Fallin' like dominoes
Dominoes
Fallin' like dominoes
Dominoes
Fallin' like dominoes
Dominoes
Fallin' like dominoes
Dominoes
The lyrics to Donald Byrd's "Dominoes" are a comforting message to a loved one who is feeling down. The song offers hope in the midst of difficulties, encouraging the listener to focus on the present moment and to take comfort in the support of those around them. The imagery of dominoes falling is used to convey the idea that problems can be tackled one by one and overcome through small, incremental steps.
The first verse speaks directly to the listener - a "pretty baby" who is feeling sad. The singer acknowledges the pain they feel, but encourages them not to worry about the past or the future. Instead, they should look to the present and work through their problems gradually. The second verse continues this theme, with the singer promising that one day they will look back on these troubles and laugh. In the meantime, the listener should take solace in the fact that they have each other.
The chorus reinforces the message of the verses, with its repeated refrain of "Hold me tight, don't let go / Turn me loose, never no, no, no / We'll stand our problems all in a row / Watch them fall, like dominoes / Fallin' like dominoes." The imagery of the problems falling like dominoes suggests that even the most complex issues can be overcome through small, well-placed actions. The song ends with a repeated chant of the word "Dominoes," underscoring the idea that life's troubles can be tackled, one by one.
Line by Line Meaning
A pretty baby dry your eyes don't you know it can't be that bad
Don't be upset, things aren't as bad as they seem.
Oh how it hurts me pretty baby when I see you sittin' there so sad
It pains me to see you unhappy.
No need to worry 'bout tomorrow, and yesterday is gone
There's no point in worrying about the past or future.
So raise your chin up girl, and we will work our problems out one by one
Stay positive and we'll solve our issues together.
Hold me tight (Hold me tight), don't let go
Turn me loose, never no, no, no
Hold me closely, never let me go.
We'll stand our problems all in a row
Watch them fall, like dominoes
Fallin' like dominoes
We'll tackle our issues in order and watch them all fall down like a chain reaction.
One day we'll laugh ad then you'll say, that everything's alright
So let's not worry 'bout tomorrow while we got each other here tonight
One day we'll look back and realize everything worked out. So let's enjoy the present and be grateful for each other.
Dominoes
Fallin' like dominoes
Dominoes
Fallin' like dominoes
Dominoes
Fallin' like dominoes
Dominoes
The chain reaction of our problems is falling down, like dominoes.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SIGIDI BASHIR ABDULLAH, HAROLD LEE CLAYTON, BRADLEY RIDGELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind